DENVER — With everything in reach, namely a playoff berth, the Rockies open a nine-game homestand tonight at Coors Field. The forecast calls for cold, colder and coldest. Yes, it could snow tomorrow. That should work to the Rockies’ advantage against the Padres, who play in perfect home weather everyday of their season. The Rockies will feature Carlos Gonzalez in the leadoff spot, followed by Dexter Fowler. Fowler hit second his entire minor league career, so he has no trouble typically adjusting to this slot. That leaves Seth Smith and Jason Giambi on the bench as weapons. Jorge De La Rosa is going for his 16th win. Lost in all the talk about Jason Marquis, De La Rosa now has a chance of eclipsing the Rockies’ single-season victory mark of 17.

No one came up more clutch on the last road trip than the left-hander. A look at the lineup, remembering the Padres’ youthful lineup is playing gutsy for manager Bud Black. San Diego took a series from the Rockies on the last trip: